Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has raised concerns over the suppression of dissent in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that those who criticize Indian policies or advocate for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue are being incarcerated.
According to Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas stated that efforts by Indian authorities to intimidate Kashmiris through detentions and alleged atrocities are ongoing. Minhas also highlighted a recent incident where a youth from Srinagar was reportedly killed in a staged encounter by Indian paramilitary forces in Watergam, Baramulla, underscoring the ongoing tension in the region.
The spokesman criticized the systematic curtailment of political, economic, religious, and social freedoms under the BJP-led government, denouncing the enforcement of laws that he termed as oppressive. Additionally, Minhas pointed out that over five thousand individuals, ranging from Hurriyat leaders to young activists, are currently held in detention under charges that the APHC views as unfounded.
The statement from the APHC comes amidst continued allegations of human rights violations in the area, serving as a call for international attention to the situation in Kashmir.